Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 47

Engaged

The months have gone by really quick. Aiden has been better since Zaid left, and now he's been back to his normal upbeat self.

He's taken up his game.

Both in basketball and in bed.

My legs are sore as I walk outside. The air is cold, freezing my nose, but I don't complain. It's better than the unbearable heat. Aiden's had an amazing first half of basketball season and next year they're hoping to go to the state tournament.

I wrap my arms around myself to keep in some of the warmth.

Winter break is next week, and all I can think about is Zaid.

It makes me feel guilty. That I'm excited that he'll be in town. I've never had a pleasant experience with him, and I should hate him, but just the thought of maybe seeing him again...

I shudder.

Sometimes I get this gut feeling that he's watching me, but when I turn to face the

corner

of whatever room I'm in, he's never there. Of course he's not.

I hate myself for missing his charms, even though they annoyed me, even though

he tested every inch of my sanity when he was here.

I can't explain the way his face haunts my dreams.

That I sometimes think about him, even when it is Aiden deep inside me.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I shouldn't feel this way. I'm with

Aiden.

Zaid is his brother, and whatever chemistry there was between us before he left is nothing.

But I still haven't gotten Aiden to talk about the night Zaid got arrested. Every time

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bring it up, he shuts down, changes the subject, or tells me it doesn't matter anymore.

phone buzzes in my pocket, pulling

Come over

know immediately that something is off. I stuff my phone back in my coat pocket and head in the opposite direction, toward his

opens the door quickly, as if he's been looking out the window and waiting for me to get home. He doesn't say anything before he pulls on the straps of my backpack and

twisting as he harshly pulls the bag

shakes his head and I frown at him, feeling strange. He looks

Alina," he says, his voice quiet,

frown, stepping further inside. "Sorry

rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't know, okay?

Confusion unfurls inside me and I have half a mind to pull my arm from his

Didn't know what?"

entrance to the living room,

is engaged. It's been almost three months since I've seen him, three months since

should be no reason for my stomach to twist the way it

trying to rein in the panic fluttering through me.

away. Something else

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the living room, and my heart

middle of the room, is my

to her

breath catching in my throat as I try to make sense of what

eyes drop to her finger, an enormous rock glinting beneath the room light. Nausea rolls

at me, the movement not reaches his eyes and he places a

me

from across the room.

me, his hand at my lower back, as if

filling the

My voice cracks, and I clear my throat, trying to

terrible smile still on his face."We wanted

the holidays, so you weren't

late for that," I mutter, still

me, his face pale, his jaw clenched. He's

the way he can't even look at his

step toward me, her hands outstretched.

wonderful news?"

"Wonderful news?" I scoff.

Jake flinches.

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me. "Why are you acting